Self-cleaning corn popper



Jan- 13, l931- H. Elcl-IART 1,789,157

SELF CLEANING CORN POPPER Original Filed.y Sept. l5, 1928 IN VEN TOR. swfs KE/c-Hnkr,

WMM

W A TTORNEYS.

5., videA a non-clogging nonsticking and self? screened'Windowlpositioned'abouttheside'55 ,i l

l mais Substantially automatic in.its .operation. 1928', now Patent'No.flZAdated '6o Y i 25- liquid like melted butter,l Will drip away from` lowered position f and the shaft" rotatingfin"l 75 35a theshaft. This arrangementeliininatesfthe lin Figs,r '3 aiidllg e@ preferably extendsangularlyof'and is c'arbafsfecons'truction includingtheaforesaidin 9o 45- with-oneor'both ofthe fingere bentfnpward lower end 'reets'rupon'anf'antifriction el'eiiient;I e5 K Patented Jan. 13,193.1` g y 1,789,151,

continuation of appnation: semi Nq. soa-175, meer September' i`5, 1:92ay Patent Nag-1,752,457, 1a-teu v Abrir 1,-f193o;-"This' applicationiiedfJanuary-op1930. Serial-fm), 4241539@- j v inventioiirelates to a .corri popping-[What iS'non-rota-table andverticallyunovablef machine' or the like which is relatively coinwith respect to saidplatebythefrotatin or" h pactand simple 1n-acoii'struction.y h n n thegehaft'solas'toperinitfthe'dischargefoftheL The chief obJect of the invention istopro- -pop corn, said cover having lafpli'iralityI of: cleaning construction suitable for apparatiis Wall thereof. Y

- suchas=cornpoppers`and thelilre, Thisv application isfacontinnatioof Another object ofthe invention is to.eirn.- colpending application entitled lopcor'nina-' V `plify'theAconstruc-tioi'i of a corn poppeifthat'Y chine Serial; No; :30651757iled Swepteinbier15, i i' The chief feature-of the inventionreSide'S l, 1930. t i Y a in `areverse threadlclutch and'drive thatl isV The full nature oftheV invention will be 'i self-cleaning and that is v.rela-tively vsimple in more fully"undeistoodfron the accompany-f construction.y .n 'k f n ingdrawingsgand theiolloviring":description`VY 1:5* Oneieaturepof the .invention reside'einthe and claims.

A Y 6a.Vv provisionofV a popping .plate thatfslope's In; theffdravvings lPigifl4 Y'is',afcentra'l 'Sec`j doivnvvardlygradually from the margintotional V View of ascor'n poppingmechaniem* Ward the center thereof `whereby the-iin#A einb'odyingtheinvention;partsAheinggslioivn'Y popped 'corn-Will: tend to roll'toWar-dthe' in"eleva`tioiiandthe dottedlinie?indicating' 20; central and heated portionofthe plate'. anelevated-position of'thfcover.' I 1Fig.` 2 isl a i 'mi Another'feature iS that the Said.'-pop'p'ing'v horizontal'sectiontakeiiion A'line-242 ofjFi'g.- plate lis provided with afniarginai,langer land inl-the directionvofthe"arrovve Figi which VsurroundsA and isf spaced'fromthe is fai'i enlarged elevatinalvi'e'iv of',thefsh'aitl Y upper partoftheheatingelementSothatanyA Vand'cover connection showingjthebovenin. Y

the saine Without injuring .the 'heatingele a counter-clockwise l"direction Fijggl 4 fisa g ment orfvother parts of the machine below thevsimilar View of they sainefparteshoxving' the poppingrplate. Y ;v 'shaft rota-tingin al clockwise hdirection'the Another `feature of the lished4 popping fiill linesl shovvingthefinitial position prior 30 plate includes'a centrallypositionedihead'or to coverelevationfandthedotted lines Show? Q0 elevatedV portionfexten'ding upwardlythereingthefcoverin elevated vposition.l VVflEFiglQ is 15' i from andreurroundi'ng.theshaft forpreventla v ievv 'similar to Fig'g 4 5' the-cover beingi;v ing-grease or the like wh'ichniay accumulatl oinitted`,` andsho'ws thefshaft'and spiral on thepopping plate*fromfescaping. .around threadiat right'aiigle's from that illuetrated necessitybf providinga'packingat this point. In the drawings' 12 indicates', yaj suitable;A Anotherfeature of the inventionconsistsin support upon which is n ioufnted thefootlI an Y-agitating and discharging element which of atubularstan'dard having the'neckiporf i Y is immediately above the popping plate andr` tion .ll'and Vtheqiaredhead 'portion i131 The fied by an agitating and power shaftcapable. cludes'suitable insulation"material l5 Whichffy Y Y ojfrotating inopposite directions, the-"agi'tatl preferably"is` fh`eat resietingjfSucli'asffniineralj ing and discharging element comprising Wool or. the like.Y Extending"f ceiitrally ,in'gerslcurving reversel-yfof each other and thro-ughlth'e is a Shaft 26"1Whi`chat it'sj 504 inprovidingfa-cover'fr'saidrpoppinglplat motorfshyftg'of electricnrifotoi."33j' `10o '33 is reversible and asuitable control in the forni of a three position switch may be pro vided therefor, one position obtaining in clockwise rotation of the shaftV 26, another counter-clockwise rotation of shaft 26, and

the third no rotation of shaft 2.6;;v In place of sucha control and such a. motor there may 'bev 'substituted a mechanical reversing gear,

a unidirectional motor and-angofl and o-n switch control therefor. Either typeV ofarrangement is mechanisms and forms no part of the present 'inventionexceptthe application fof rotational Vpower to 'shaft 26lin opposite' direc'- tions.

Positioned near the top of the hea-,d is and insulation'plate 18 thatisupports a heatingv element V.171 'and positioned thereabove *in* spaced relation isa'supporting plate 19.

Struck from said plate isa plurality ofV pairs of `rstraps9v which slidably receivean angular retaining member or strap 26., rhe plate 19 bearsl against the shouldered portion 119 of ay collar134 which rotatably sup- "portsshaft`26 and also Vsupports the heador embossed central portion 34 of the heating plate having the inwardly. dislied portion 21 extending outwardly. and upwardly therefrom. The heating lplate portion 21 at its outer end includes a down turned flange '24 that is turned outwardly and laterally as' atV 124Y toV form a seat*` for ,the bead'k of a cover inember and the sanicitermiifiates in a' depending skirt 22. u

The shaft 26 extends upwardly beyond the heatingplate and suitably secured there.

- to as b extending through the Vsarneis a air i maybe supplied 140 apertured at 50 plate portion 150k associated withwliich is a pair of clamp disks 45 and/46, the fo-rmeri f indicating the upper -and vlower.

of agitators or ngers 25 onelof which is slightly elevated relative tothe dished Vpor-l tion of the heating plate and theV other one practically rides over it.4V u f The cover 40 includes an inturnedfportion and acentrally' apertured the latterl :the Suitable means such as rivets. or bolts 47 secure all in relativelyrigid relation. TheV disks form a rotatable supportjfor the shaft and also constitute the support forthe cover bythe shaft.4 A

, The 'cover intermediate its ends 'is aper{ tured as at k4,1 and a. suitable screen construction 141 covers the same. This'permitsinspection of the 'pepper interior as well as some,k ventilation. -The Vunpopped grains through-the tube or closure 51 as "indicated,'passingv through the apertures 50. Suitablyy secured to ,thefl depending skirt 22 of the heating plate are ,aplurality ofsocket formingstraps 122gan'd herein a pair of said straps is illustrated. Suitably secured'to'the cover andrigid'therewith and' dependingtherefroin is-'a plurality and a similar number of straps 42 the'sarne'constif tuting tongues well known in powen driveI vshaped ,as at 256, see Fig.

slidably receivable by the strap sockets. The tongue and socket Vconstruction permits raising and lowering of the Y cover relative to the base portion but prevents relative ',rotation therebetween. The cover `also includes a beaded portion 142'that seats nor nests Vupon the Vperipheral seat formed in. the heating plate.V

peculiar in finger near appreciably forni. Itiwill be notedthat each the shaft 26 is bent downwardly so as'to rest on the popping plate nearthe mid-portionV thereof.' The"y Afingersrare curved in opposite directions, the outer ends vof saine extending in advance of the middleportions. yOne ofthe fingers' lies The-agitating and discharging fingers are rather fiat on the popping plate for scraping" action while the other from ythe popping plate? flat agitatcs the unpopped "grains of corn and .allows nonetopass thereunder.'v prevents stickin popped grains of corn tothe heating plate.: 1*

ng'er is bent upwardi so that its extreme outerv end is alOOU'J 1/2l yThe finger lying Y llt-alsof g of the f ypopped and iin- During the poppinglpartv ofthe operation of the machineV fingers 25are turned counterf clockwise vand the fingers` serve to "draw the grains towardthe center` of the popping plate.

:After `a charge of corn-is popped the shaft is reversed and the fingers 25 rotate in'a clockwise direction which discharges the popped' corn over the margin ofthe poppingi plate.k This'ds possiblebecause in this clock# wise rotatioiithe cover is automatically elevated as will now be set forth.` n

. lConcentric with. the upper end of the shaft 26 isa spiral thread 44 the pitch being about one turn to the inch. The interior diameter of the spiral is slightly larger-than the diainei itery ofthe'sliaft 26 so that in the relative rota` tion between the two when thesanieoccuis as hereinafter set forththe spiral spring or thread willfclean therod of any accumulations of grease or vthe like; The lower end of the spiral springterininates in an outwardly an'dsubstantially 'radially directed end 144 which serves as ay stop, the saine engagingthe end ofthe inturned flange or collar 146 yon the washer oruplate 46. The upper end of the thread is turned inwardlyy and substantially dianietrically as at 244 and the saine `is slightlyinclined downwardly from the horizontal or inclined angularly to a planey transverse to the spiral axis. v

atY

iio

The free'endofthe shaft 26is slottedas at 156 and the two tongue portions projectingV from the,V end ofthe shaft are tapered in partial sphereformation as at 126 and 226. Portion 126 isV slightlyllonger'than portion 226. The base of the groove or slot 156 iswedgey 5. Likewise the sides of the s1 ot 156 are inclinedroutwardly.

The upper plate or disk 45 includes a cen'- f shaft diameter,f

vtraclraor groove v for; theffspiral.'

aforesaid- :several In? the. clockwise rotation fof the fshaftthe' Y vSpiralrides throughthe groovevformed byl th eltcng11es.245.-.andz 345: andycaus'es. ythe cover; the endv ofzthe .spirali at` ,portion` 244' passes from thespiral'receivingigroove formed bythe two the center `A Vatedthe'poppedcorn and the pass outover'the side ofthe heating plate.

' until" the bottom Vor .the same pitcheas thezspiral :.44l f and v(Seeitongues 42 and i to beA elevateduntil the vj unction with the tralx apertl'lrewl l'45'rislight1y: larger L than` fthe: n

and a portioniof the periphery Y. aperture is concentricallyf'and delining said radially' slitted k; to .form tivo f` opp'ositelyv 1 drected :tonguesf245l and 345, the :former being r directed upwardlyiand VVthe :latter downward.-

' 146Y f of the'.plat e=46;fThe twotonguesextendisub#v lyiand :lying Within; the'acollar j portion stantially'. paralleli; to each other 1 and have By .reasonf ofthe peculiar formation of the .parts l the cover i when 10W- eredivvill i remain; vlowered. WithoutA 1 rotating.

at .th direction .fand f the*A slightly y:downwardly directed fend-2440i thef's'piral ridesfupon the more .elevateditongue ,126'v of the shaft as i a- 20,-,pivot; Upon reverse rotationthelangularpor#` tion 244 ofthe spiral slips offlof the high point of theltongue 126', drops intothe shaft groove.v

tongues245fand 345. The cover remains ele` vated Jdu'ring .any continued rotation V'0i theY A shaftn .therclockwisefidirection; When this?" occursthe agitating'ingersl25 discharge'ther.'

` popped cornland deadgrainsoutwardly from and overmthe edge sinceth'e mida each 'linger i-isiy mo-re finf Vadvance portion of than; the` end'fportions.Y Y The cover. being -ele- Upon reversal of thread automaticallyenters 1 the vgroove Thereupon the angularl portion v:2440i the vspiralthread'rises yfrom-fthe shaft slot Sand rises above thes'horter` tmgueT 226 fand rests 144.servesasastopzto prevent dra-'Wal of lthe spiral inthe two plates-45 cleans 'thel shaft. The

chored at one endtolthe muti-type plate and byltheaboltsj4. The other fend: is aapertured to" permitilubricatinglofi thefshaftand f straps 122). The-shaft 1s time rotates),` in a l counter-clockwisespiraL. The: tubularrprotectonprevents'rfthe;

corn grains from contacting the shaft-Zand. Y

spiraL-Whfileginsthe:reservoi-rfglef .Theinventlon claimedisglv 1;- The.combinationiwvith.-afmember.(

anaperture includ-ingacoaxiali threadedaportion: fand` cons'trained:V againstgg.; rotation; ibut capable f-ojfreeiprocaalnfyi` movement; and a-freversible gi'otating shaft (extendinggt'hrough anfraperture-Y of 1 the-,fmemben volf-v; a-th'read on-if; .said shaft also vreceivable bytheaperture-.andfY v complementarytothethreaded portionotherf' aperture; said thread-and saidesh-aft thawing,-l

anfzover-runni-ng clutch-connection .therebea meent.; y

i 2.' lhef-cornbination.P nnen-ih er,y having anaperturexincludingg'a'coaxial, threaded por? tiongrandsconstrained? against;;rotation-.butf

aperturegsaidthreadandysaidyshaft-fhaving i tweenvforpone directiono'shaft-rotation,fand

auf opposite over-running clutchg- :connectionf therebetween 11111011:feverse-Shafftfrottorr and' 3. Thefcombination-Withfv-a; member having;

an apertureff including.'V a5 :.coaxialf threaded.-l

ver-sible rotating shaft lextending1 through fan'V apertureV of f thermember, shaftalso receivable; by; the aperturefand complementary-to the lthreaded portion of the -faperture and! Y'eommuniczitingil .,therewith'-, f

said fthre'ad and1 said; shaft having ,ani over-lv formed bythe twoplate'itongues 245 and V345 and -inso doingthevcover is `caused'to' descendn beaded-f portion-l42en-' gages the offset seat offthe'fheating plate."

running.- clutch; 'connectiontherebetween?.Y:

portion and4constrained-againstrotation but 7 capable. Iof lreoiprocat'orymovement; `a `reverf; sible?? rotatingcshaft Iextending; through Lan aperturef'of the lmember, ofaf'thread on-1said= shaftfalsoureceivablerbythe-aperture-andcom aperture; said thread and said' shat beingcapable"-3f lvlrelative 'faXi-a overtrunning' clutch connection therebetween. The combination With"ameinb'er 'having 'Yangaperture includin'ga coaxialthreaided por-i pablefm'fA reciprooatorjfmovemenla reversi#V Vblerotating shaft extendingthroughan ,aper--. ture of fthe meirilieigoi .thread .onsaid tifonfand const-rainedv againstlrotation'but; ca

also Y receivable the aperture andcoinpl-ef plementary'f to the threaded portion" of 'the lmovement-f andan beingffcapablezof '.coaXiaL relativeffmovement or cleaniiigsaidfe shaft; "and f-aniovererunning Vel clutch' connection -loetween vsaid thread. yfand y Saidshaft.- Y e 6. The combi 'ation' witlramember-liaving tion and constrained against 'rotation'bnt eapable of reciprocatory movemennia reversible vrotating shaft extending through an aperture yof the member, of a threadon said shaftalso receivable bylllthe aperture I"and complement tary to the threaded fportion of theaperture',

said Vthreadandlsaid shafthaving an overrunning clutch connection Atherebetween forfM ing the thread,

onedirection' of shaft rotation, an opposite position"relative 'to said; thread, lfand lmeans preventing additional threading movement between the vthread and vmember at oneen-d rotating shaft extending through an 'aperture l ofthe member, `of a thread onfsaidfshaft also* over-running clutchconnection therebetween l upon reverse shaft rotation and whenthe member landthe shaft vhave a predetermined of the thread,`said shaft andthreadihaving a connection therebetween preventingladdi'- tional relative axial movement in thefsame axialdirectiom A i f f 7. The combination vwith-a memberhav'ing an apertreinoluding a coaxial threaded 'por-V tion and constrained against r'otationbut capable of reciprocatoryrmovement, a reversibley receivable by the aperture and complementary to the threaded portion of theaperture,

said thread vand said shaft having an over-j running clutchl connection therebetween comprising aslotted 'shaft end 'forming tongues,

and yanlinwardly directed diametri@ end of thethread extending more, thnjhalffway across fthe`thread,the' exterior of the tongue portions of the L shaft end being: curved for thread end' thereover 'f when the Vshaft-is rotated infoneidirection;V

free Y running of `:the

the threadv Vend being '-seatable inf the `shaft *slot whenthe shaftis rotated in the opposite '8. The combinationwith a member having direction.L

an apertureV including a coaxial threaded por-v tion and constrained 'agalnst rotation but ca- I pable ofreciprocatory movement,a reversible rotating shaft extending through anaperture of the member,of a thread-'on-saidl ing curved for free` running of the thread end the'rec'ver whenfgthe` shaft isy rotated in one v direction, the threaden-d'being seatable in the-shaft slot-:when thef'shaft is rotated in the oppositedire'ction',one of the 'shaft end tongue-'portions projecting slightly beyond the. other and the inwardly extendingthread axis thereof." Y f f an aperture includingav coaxial threadedpor.r

Y thev shaft slot ywhen t the thread extending `more maaien i a 4end 'eXtendingit-owardthedbdy of the thread; i to thev andv angularlyof'a plane transverse 9. The combination member havingl` an aperture includinga coaxial threaded vpor- 'f 'tion and constrained against/rotation but ca` E pable of 'reciprocatoryI movement, a reversible rotating shaft egrtending ethr-ough an aper ture 'of thelmember", of a thread' on said shaft also receivablefbythe aperture and comple-E mentary tothe threaded portion of the aper- Y turerand communicating therewith for cleansaidthread and said shaft being :capable .of :coaxial relative `movement 1 clutch'connection between said thread" and 180 l for cleaning 'said shafts an :l over-runnng said-shaft, Acomprising a slotted shaft end forming tongues, and anL inwardly. directed diametricfend of the thread. extending more f. than; half way, across the'y thread, the; exterior-` v of'the'tongue portions of the 'shaftend being curved fori free .running of the threadfendthereoverfwlien"thefshaft -is rotatedin 'one direction, the threadvend ,beingsseatable-inl 9 opposite direction. i

heshaft isf rotated in the' I oef LOQThe combination'with a member i ing anf'aperture including aA coaxial threaded portion andnconstrained against rotation ,but f capable'of reciprocatory movement, a revers- Y ible' rrotating shaft extending through an v ap`- lerture ofithefmember, 'of a thread on said 'shaft also A receivable z-byg the ,aperture and complementary tothe threaded portion of thegaper-ture andy communicating therewithL for cleaningfthe thread, said thread and said shaft -beingfcapab-le of coaxial-relative movement l'for ,cleaning said shaft;v Van over-running` clutch connectionl between said threadf and said shaft,comprisingf a slotted shaft end'forming tongues-and an' inwardly directed diametric lend of the-thready extending more than halflAway v across exterior` of the tongue portions'jof the shafty the thread, the

end being curved for-free running- 'of `the` thread end; thereover--when the shaft is ro-AIA ,thef thread endj being tated in one direction, n seatable in theY shaft slot vwhen theV-shaftis rotated in-thebppoSite direction, one of thev shaftend tongue POltOnsproj ectlngvl slightly and the inwardly extendingV beyond theother threadend extending toward the body ofthe ich thread andv angularly of'a planeg-transverse'` to the axis-thereof.r v Y., p y `11.The combinat'on with a member having an aperture including a coaxial threaded' portion and constrained against rotation but2 capable l of reciprocatory movement, 1 a.u rre-v versible rotating4 shaft extending throughan aperture of, he member, cfa thread lLon said shaft also receivable by the; aperture .and

complementary-tothe threaded portionpof v the aperture`- and communicating therewithfor, cleaning thet'hread,said thread and said shaft being capable of coaXi'a-l'relative movement for cleaning said shaft, an over-runtation, and an opposite over-running clutch ning clutch connection between-said thread and said shaft for one direction of shaft rotation, and an opposite over-running clutch connection therebetween upon reverse shaft rotation and when the member and the shaft have la predetermined said thread.` Y. Y I

`l2. The combination with a member having an aperture including a coaxial threaded portion and constrained against rotation but capable of reciprocatory movement, a reversible rotating shaft extending through an aperture of the member, of a thread on. said shaft also receivable by the aperture and complementary to the threaded portion of the aperture and communicating therewith for cleaning the thread, said thread and said shaft being capable of coaxial relative movement for cleaning said shaft, an over-running clutch connection between said thread and said shaft for one direction of shaft roposition relative to connection therebetween upon reverse shaft rotation and when the member and the shaft have a predetermined position relative to said thread, said Vfirst-mentioned over-running connection comprising a slotted shaft end forming tongues, and an inwardly directed diametric end of the thread extending more than half way across the thread, the exterior of the tongue portions of the shaft end being curved for free running of the threadV end thereover when the shaft is rotated in lone direction, in the shaft slot when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

13. The combination with a member having an aperture including a coaxial threaded portion and constrained against rotation but capable of reciprocatory movement, a reversible rotating shaft extending through an aperture of the member, shaft yalso receivable by the aperture and complementary to the threaded portion of the aperture and communicating therewith for cleaning the thread, said thread and said shaft being capable of coaxial relative moveof a thread on said Yment for cleaning said shaft, an over-running clutch connection between said thread and said shaft for one direction of shaft rotation, and an opposite over-running clutch connection therebetween upon reverse shaft i rotation and when the'member and the shaft' .55

have a predetermined position relative to said thread, said first-mentioned over-running connection comprising a lslotted shaft end forming tongues, and an inwardly directed diametric end of the thread extending more than half way across the thread, the

y exterior of the tongue portions of the shaft end being curved for free thread end thereover tated in one direction, the threadend being seatable in the shaft slot when the shaft s running of the the thread end being seatable when the shaft is rorotated in the opposite direction, one of theA Inl witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed'my signature.

Y JAMES H.l REICHART.v

Yso 

